Outtakes Around the Lake: Mourning the loss of innocence

As TV news issued more and more details, never have I ever imagined I could feel so badly about the loss of others, the majority of which were harmless children. If it ever happens to us, I pray I’m able to maintain an air of civility, but I honestly don’t know what I’d do. I can’t imagine the degre...

As TV news issued more and more details, never have I ever imagined I could feel so badly about the loss of others, the majority of which were harmless children. If it ever happens to us, I pray I’m able to maintain an air of civility, but I honestly don’t know what I’d do. I can’t imagine the degree of numbness these families must be suffering from the senseless massacre that happened last week in Newtown, Conn.

We can only hope and pray it never, ever happens … to anyone, anywhere, ever again. But at times like this, with so many unstable people here and about, nothing is guaranteed.

This Christmas season, instead of celebrating in merriment, we sadly mourn these mass killings. Candles glow in churches, homes and various other spots, and prayers are silently offered for the victims of Sandy Hook, the elementary school where 26 persons, including 20 young students, lost their lives on a Friday morning just two weeks before Christmas.

According to various news reports, Baytown resident Mike D’Orazio, who wanted to help comfort family and friends of the victims, suggested communities turn off all Christmas lights in remembrance, and residents complied. He’s hoping the idea will carry to towns across the country.

“The enormity of what happened today to those young kids deserves some sort of attention,” D’Orazio said.

I believe he is to be commended.

To advance his suggestion, let’s join by setting aside 20 ribbons, simply crossed with a single top loop with SHS, for Sandy Hook Students, written on them and posted somewhere outside on our house as a reminder this Christmas to cherish our children always. Twelve red ribbons for the girls who died and eight green ones for the boys. Those families from Newtown, a community where residents likely felt their small city was among the safest in America, won’t, and possibly never will, have as merry a Christmas as you and I. So many of us will be sharing the Yule season with our loved ones and our children while they mourn the loss of theirs.

President Barack Obama, in an emotional and tearful mid-afternoon address to the nation, summed up our feelings with these words.

“Our hearts are broken. The majority of those who died were children … beautiful, little kids between the ages of 5 and 10 years old,” he said. “They had their entire lives ahead of them…birthdays, graduations, weddings, kids of their own … among the fallen were also teachers ... men and women who devoted their lives to helping our children. As a country, we have been through this too many times,” and he called for “meaningful action” to curtail this senseless violence. Shortly afterward, Obama ordered all government flags to fly at half mast.

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So much has been lost. Children who will not be part of Christmas celebrations. Kids who experienced the horror of this senseless act in the middle of their Hanukah celebration, the hope and celebration of lights. Li’l ones whose school memories will forever be scarred by unwanted thoughts of their elementary school days. Children who have done nothing in their short lives to warrant such tragedy or memories.

Like so many others across the nation, nothing tears Peggy, our family and me apart like the senseless slaughter of children. Innocent kids who haven’t lived enough to enjoy life or whose few years here on earth haven’t produced enough time to make enemies that would warrant such actions.

To the parents and community of Newtown, on behalf of the good and decent citizens of the Portage Lakes in southern Summit County, Ohio, we mourn with you the loss of your loved ones. Our hearts bleed for you, our thoughts join yours, our prayers are offered on your behalf and our sympathies extend to everyone.

In memory of those who perished, including 20 small angels now, a path has been created to help us guide our lives forward in goodness, health, prosperity and, hopefully, love of our neighbor. To the families of the victims, we truly feel your pain.